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SEMINAR AND WORKSHOP GOAL AND OBJECTIVES
An estimated 36 to 40 participants from the Américas regional, exclusive of host
country participants, will exchange views, knowledge and experiences, develop new skills
and gain improved understanding of norms and standards related to disability, of the
context and structure of the proposed comprehensive and integrated convention on promotion
and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities, and of rights based approaches
to development. The exchanges will contribute to establishment of open and democratic
networks to promote the sharing of knowledge and experience on development-based
approaches to the advancement of persons with disabilities in the Américas and contribute
to improved cooperation in capacity building for rights based approaches to development.
On the basis of the substantive exchanges and group work, seminar and workshop
participants will formulate (a) a strategic planning framework to guide further action on
elaboration of a seventh international instrument related to the rights of persons with
disability, and (b) a strategic plan for preparation of training and resource materials
and for building national capacities and institutions for rights based approached to
development appropriate to the Américas region.
Meeting participants will gain new insights and understanding of both the barriers and
enabling factors to full and effective participation of persons with disability in social
life and development. Meeting findings and recommendations will enable participants better
to present the case for and make specific contributions to the question of context and
content of national policy options and the proposed seventh international instrument on
the rights of persons with disabilities.
Meeting preparations, proceedings and results will be published in accessible formats
making appropriate use of Internet-enabled technologies, which is expected to contribute
to an open and democratic dialogue and creation of networks for exchanges of knowledge and
experience in the field of disability in the Américas region.
1. Seminar/Workshop goal
The seminar/workshop seeks to contribute to the promotion of awareness and support for
a seventh international human rights instrument that would address the promotion and
protect of the rights of persons with disabilities and would further thereby equalization
of opportunities for persons with disabilities.
This project goal relates to General Assembly resolution 56/168 and the consideration
of elements for a comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and
protect the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. The goal statement also draws
upon progress in implementing Assembly resolution 52/82, on priorities for action in the
equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities, and subsequent resolutions of
the Assembly on the question [1] and takes into account findings and
recommendations contained in "monitoring reports" of the Special Rapporteur on
Disability of the Commission for Social Development on progress in implementing the
Standard Rules and issues associated with elaboration of a new international convention on
the rights of persons with disability. [2]
2. Immediate objectives
- Knowledge and experience on norms and standards related to disability in the context of
development promoted and key issues and trends in the Américas region exchanged and key
issues and trends identified and assessed. The project will provide a forum for exchanges
of knowledge and experience among governmental officials, academics as well as
representatives of the non-governmental community and the private sector on issues and
trends in international norms and standards related to disability, rights based approaches
to development and capacity building for the advancement of persons with disabilities in
the mainstream.
- Priorities for strategic planning and for national capacity building in the Américas
region identified. The intensive exchanges and group work are expected to result in
identification of (1) a strategic planning framework to further rights-based approaches to
development by, for and with persons with disabilities in the Américas and (2) scheme for
preparation of training and resource materials to build national capacities for rights
based approaches to development.
- Substantive contributions to policy dialogue on norms and standards related to
disability produced on the light of selected experiences of the Américas region. The
outcome of the regional seminar and workshop will inform the work of the Ad Hoc Committee
established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 56/168 with regard to substantive
aspects of the context and content of the proposed seventh international convention on the
rights of persons with disabilities. The meeting outcome will contribute substantively to
efforts of Governments as well as civil society to promote full participation and equality
of persons with disabilities in social life and development.
- National capacities to promote rights based approaches to development among interested
countries of the Américas region strengthened. The Américas regional seminar and
workshop will involve participants in their individual capacity, with emphasis on
participants who have knowledge or personal experience with disability, from the
Américas. The project will aim to involve country participation teams, which would
include a participant with knowledge and expertise in norms and standards related to
disability, and a participant with knowledge and expertise in independent living or in
promoting sustainable livelihoods. While participants gain new knowledge through technical
exchanges and group work on formulating a framework for strategic action to further rights
based approaches to development in the Américas, participants also will acquire increased
understanding of strategies and approaches to promote public awareness, negotiate
practical measures and further implement norms and standards related to the rights of
persons with disabilities in the context of development.
- Civil society is informed and engaged in the promotion of rights based approaches to
development and participation of persons with disabilities in the mainstream. To ensure
open access and extensive awareness of the Américas regional seminar and workshop as well
as provide opportunities for civil society input, the project will be based on accessible
Internet technologies to promote open and democratic dialogue on norms and standards
related to disability and development-based approaches to advancement of persons with
disabilities.
Project ends and means
The project objectives will be pursued by the following activities:
- Conduct a three-day Américas regional seminar and workshop on norms and standards
related to disability and rights based approaches to development from 9 to 11 April 2003
at Quito.
- Seminar and workshop participants will review and discuss selected national experience
in the Américas region in promoting full and effective participation and equality of
persons with disabilities in the mainstream and the role of relevant international and
regional norms and standards relating to disability, including the United Nations Standard
Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities [3],
and assess implications for promoting the rights of persons with disabilities in the
context of development.
- Seminar and workshop participants will draft findings and recommendations and formulate
a strategic planning framework, with emphasis on the context and suggested content of a
comprehensive and integral international convention on the rights of persons with
disabilities as set forth in General Assembly resolution 56/168.
- Seminar and workshop participants will identify priorities for national capacity
building and prepare a scheme for the preparation of training and resource materials on
rights based approaches to development appropriate to the Américas.
- Project agents will prepare a report on the findings, recommendations and outcome of the
regional seminar and workshop, which will be made available to the Ad Hoc Committee
established pursuant to Assembly 56/168.
- Project agents will arrange to publish in accessible formats on the Internet the results
of the regional seminar and workshop to facilitate open and democratic dialogue and
networks of excellence.
Project follow up could include public information activities to promote awareness and
support for development-based approaches to the advancement of persons with disabilities,
and sub-regional cooperation in building national capacities and institutions for
sustainable livelihoods by, for and with persons with disabilities.
Notes:
1 General Assembly resolution 54/121 of 17 December 1999 and 56/115 of
19 December 2001.
2 General Assembly document A/52/56; Commission for Social Development
documents E/CN.5/2000/3 and E/CN.5/2002/4, respectively.
3 Normas Uniformes sobre la igualdad de oportunidades para las personas
con discapacidad < http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/dissres0.htm
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